Representative Drew MacEwen said the assessments have forced teachers to teach to the tests and students to focus on passing the tests. He’s concerned that passing the tests to graduate have drawn attention away from the real focus of school – and that’s educating kids.

House Bill 1046 wouldn’t eliminate the assessments. But it would remove the requirement to pass them before a student can graduate.

“There’s two things I want to stress. One is it saves 20-million dollars because it would get rid of a lot of requirements and the bureaucracy within OSPI, so we’re saving money. But also, I believe it is our job to ensure that we create life-long learners and not life-long test takers.

Republican State Representative Drew MacEwen of Union. The bill eliminates the Certificates of Academic Achievement and Individual Achievement as proof for graduation that a student has passed the tests.

The measure passed the House 92 to 6. It now goes to the Senate for further consideration. John Sattgast, Olympia.